Finding Ways to Challenge Me

This month I completed more challenges than I normally do. It has been fun to try a couple of different things and it certainly helps to get more work done on my trip album. There are always lots of great challenges to be found at Ginger Scraps and while this month is winding down to a close don’t forget that come August 1st there will be a new bunch to choose from. And every time you complete 10 challenges whether you get them all done in one month or carry it over to another month you earn a free kit.

Mini-Kit Challenge

The Mini-Kit challenge requires that you take the mini-kit supplied and then create a layout of your choice with what is found in the kit. You don’t have to use everything so you can get creative if you want to. This month it is hosted by MagsGraphics with her Blessed mini-kit. I created a page about the saying I had pulled out of the jar a coworker put out to be encouraging to other this summer. The kit of course in the Blessed Mini-Kit. I used Dagi’s Temp-tations 1,2,3,4 Go! – Template #3 to complete the layout. The fonts are Caviar Dream, Morracle, and Segoe UT.

Designer Spotlight Challenge

The Designer Spotlight Challenge features one or more designers each month and you must complete a layout with one of their kits currently in the store. This month is CathyK Designs. I used her her Robot kit to complete a two-page layout of our dinner at the Hajime Robot Resturant. The template is Scrapping with Liz – My Life 36. The fonts are LaCarmella and Gil Sans.

Template Challenge

The Template Challenge as the name implies requires you to use the supplied template to complete a layout. You are free to make adjustments and let your own creativity shine through. There are two different templates supplied each month at Ginger Scraps. I used the second template this month provided by KristMess Designs from her Marvelous Pack. It is template #4 in the set. The kit I used is the Gingerbread Ladies Life is a Picnic. The fonts are Segoe Script and Comic Sans. I used the template to create a layout of the market that we went to and picked up breakfast one morning in Chaing Mai.

Pretty in Green: Back It Up Challenge

The Pretty in Green: Back it Up Challenge encourages you to back your photos up and to use them to create a layout. The exact requirements for the layout vary from month to month. This month celebrate summer. I created a double page layout of photos taken in flight on the first leg of our vacation. I used a kit from Gingerbread Ladies – Away We Go. The template is a double page template from Yin Designs – #449a. The fonts are Charlemagne Std, Myriad Pro, and Perpetua Titling.

Another 24 Hours of Vacation – Dubai style

Well, compliments of Emirates we ended up with another day in Dubai. We just missed our connection and since they only fly to Orlando once a day we had to wait 24 hours to head home. But they put us up again in The Copthorne and as long as we ate at the buffet at the hotel food was covered so over all it wasn’t too bad.

Dubai Mall

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We had thought about going to the Dubai Mall on our way through before but we really didn’t have the time so now we took the time and spent several hours walking around the mall. What surprised me was how many American restaurant chains were represented. Everything from P. F. Changs to Five Guys. The mall is very beautiful with a huge indoor waterfall and ornate light fixtures. While we didn’t actually pay to go into their aquarium we did enjoy what we could see from the outside. We even exchanged phones with another couple and got our picture taken together. We stopped at Cold Stone Creamery and had some ice cream to celebrate Joshua’s birthday. We also walked outside the patio area to the Souk Al Bahar which was even more upscale. We didn’t stay long. I picked up a clean shirt to wear home and also got some rest at the hotel.

Day Late – Dollar Short

We finally made it home after missing another day of work to find that while we were traveling across the ocean the youth group had been at our house and totally cleaned up replanted much of Samuel’s Garden out front. A very nice surprise.

Fishy Day with Lillian

I just realized I never came back and finished blogging about our last couple of vacations day. So to celebrate Dan’s birthday on Saturday, July 8. We got to babysit for Lily while her parents went to the movies and we headed out to the aquarium.

Sea Life – Ocean World – Very Fishy

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We took Lillian to the Sea Life – Ocean World aquarium located in the Siam mall. This place was beautiful. You follow a gentle downward spiral that takes you from the top of the tanks to the bottom. There was a little glass bottom boat that takes you around the top of the tank. There was a baby penguin and wonderful views. This aquarium gets top marks in organization. We had so much fun spending the time with Lillian as well. She was so excited about everything she saw.

Souvenir Photos – Nothing Fishy Here

And being grandparents we stopped for the souvenir photo shoot as well. We put Lily in her stroller as we finished up and she was asleep in seconds.

Lunch Time – Might Have Been Fishy

We stopped for lunch at Mos Burgers a chain from Japan but we stuck to more traditional choices.

Airline Texts – Might Fishy

As we were preparing to leave the hotel we got a text from Eremites that our second flight was changed to Sunday night instead of the same night. We didn’t know what was happening for sure until we received the second text letting us know that our first flight was delayed for about three hours. But the airline gave us food vouchers to use at the Suvarnabhumi Airport food court before our flight and then we got food and hotel vouchers to use in Dubai. Of course that’s a story for another post. And while I was waiting I looked around for what I could spend my last Baht on and found this cute little unicorn to take home.

Food to Start the Day

Our first choice for food this morning turned out to be a disappointment because we were told after they had seated us that the power was out because of a fire next door so that we could only have things that were cold. So we decided to pack up and move on.

We walked a few blocks and went to the Central Embassy yet another very large and fancy shopping mall in Bangkok. There we ate at Paul Bakery a chain that originated in France. The food was all very good.

Fun to Entertain a Two-Year-Old

On the top floor of the Central Embassy is a wonderful space called Open House. They have a big bookstore with both Thai and English books. They also have an art tower featuring different art on a rotating basis. They have all kinds of eateries. There are spaces for quiet study or work. There are also large areas for co-thinking. There was also the most awesome kids’ space. The even have staff there to help monitor and assist children as needed. I was very impressed with the both the concept and design of this wonderful thinking space.

Wat Culture

We decided to visit one more Wat today. Wat Pho is the home of the reclining Budda. This is a very large statue. It is believed that Thai massage was founded at this Wat as well. Tomorrow starts a four-day Buddist Holiday and there were many groups of school children at the Temple. It was interesting to see the different groups and what they were working on. Some were talking to monks or listening to speeches. Others were working on paintings. We also saw small groups of girls singing Buddist prayers. And of course, there were those who were just hanging out with friends.

And Back to Food

We at The 14th Barrel a little local bar that is right outside our hotel. The food was excellent and those who drank beer had a lot of tasting the different craft beers on offer. We had great conversation and even had fun posing Cuddles being naughty.

Packing Up the Chromebook

This will be the last update until we get back to the states. I will post about our last day then.